So sad when non-thought-through actions taken result in a needless death and a judicial outcome without a morality base that leaves many questions unanswered for the public-at-large.

In my lifetime I cannot recall any incident that continues to be this upsetting and unnerving. It takes one back to the period, when Christ walked this earth, to demonstrate that group mentality still reigns not withstanding apostolic leadership over centuries.

Is there a pattern of regulations adopted, nationally or statewide, by volunteer Neighborhood Watch Groups whereby any police instruction, regarding “the chase” cancels the act of pursuit about to be performed by a vigilante? If the pursued is presumed a threat to the neighborhood, by a vigilante, does not the one pursued have the same rights of self-protection under these circumstances, when innocent, or until proven guilty, in the courtroom?

How can only one member of what had turned into a two-party-action-threat event leave an unarmed participant dead from a gunshot wound to his heart without considering that this innocent person, presumed to be a threat to the neighborhood, by a Watch Vigilante, was just a teenage kid walking home with soda, candy and a cell phone, as companionship, and became scared.

To charge a jury with a verdict of manslaughter, or anything else, in consideration of the evidence through the lens of personal fear-of-life without stipulating that his presumed predator, upon awareness of being followed, also had a personal fear of life, from an unknown party behind him. Was the jury instructed to consider the fact that his policeman collaborator had given this vigilante instructions not to proceed with the chase and to get into his car and leave? Were the facts restated that he was unarmed and that the only “given” of neighborhood predator in this pursuit event was a presumption, by an armed vigilante, that this FIGURE, hood up to protect from the rain, was a threat to this neighborhood?

Everyone who cares that justice and morality as an equal partnership under the law prevails needs to write letters and to contact your legislators at all levels as well as your clergy.